SM89 wrote:It was supposed to be built at the same time as the NU ISEB since they are next to each other and need to be integrated. I wonder if this will have any effect on NU's plans?

Northeastern seems to be ignoring this project. They've already broken ground on the new science and engineering building, and have touted the inclusion of a new bridge over the tracks (never mind the fact that there is already one right there adjacent to the bus loop). Nothing the university has publicly revealed about the new building ever mentions or shows a second platform at Ruggles.

Northeastern's ISEC is still on track for a late-2016 opening, and is completely independent of the Ruggles platform project. The new pedestrian bridge ("The Arc") is not, nor ever was, intended to provide access to the east end of the current platform or the planned second one. The new bridge is designed to provide more convenient and safe access to the new building and Columbus Ave, unlike the existing bridge which only ever dumped you into a big parking lot. (The bridge adjacent to the busway is now closed, as it only leads into the construction site, and the other bridge leads into a parking garage, which is inconvenient if you're trying to go directly to Columbus).

The University has no incentive, financial or otherwise, to push the Ruggles platform project, hence their lack of interest in how quickly or slowly moves.

The busway bridge closure is only temporary. It will be reopened during certain phases of the project. The ped detour through the garage isn't really much of an inconvenience since it's pretty much a straight shot through.

I know the NU project is moving utilities that will be affected by the new Ruggles platform.

SM89 wrote:I know the NU project is moving utilities that will be affected by the new Ruggles platform.

Hmm...which utilities? The MBTA's platform construction plan shows (showed) moving train utilities (electrical conduits--signals and power, one presumes) from where they are trackside now, out into NU's parking lot so that the MBTA could dig any new trackside platform foundations (and then move all the utilities from their temporary NU alignment and back under the completed platform).

"Trying to solve congestion by making roadways wider is like trying to solve obesity by buying bigger pants."--Charles Marohn

SM89 wrote:I know the NU project is moving utilities that will be affected by the new Ruggles platform.

Hmm...which utilities? The MBTA's platform construction plan shows (showed) moving train utilities (electrical conduits--signals and power, one presumes) from where they are trackside now, out into NU's parking lot so that the MBTA could dig any new trackside platform foundations (and then move all the utilities from their temporary NU alignment and back under the completed platform).

Ok I doubled checked. The MBTA was supposed to be relocating the utilities for their project while the ISEB foundation was being poured. The new MBTA retaining wall is to support the Arc Bridge, so I assume the MBTA's delays will delay the bridge construction.

I found within the MBTA FY15-19 Capital Plan that the project does indeed appear to be funded (see attached PDF of a cut and paste from the report).

Anyone have any idea when construction might begin / finish? With the newly proposed schedules that have all inbound AM Stoughton trains stopping at Ruggles, that new platform will surely come in handy.

ohalloranchris wrote:I found within the MBTA FY15-19 Capital Plan that the project does indeed appear to be funded (see attached PDF of a cut and paste from the report).

Anyone have any idea when construction might begin / finish? With the newly proposed schedules that have all inbound AM Stoughton trains stopping at Ruggles, that new platform will surely come in handy.

There are a lot of other trains that lose stops at Ruggles, so I doubt the total number of trains which are scheduled to stop there goes up much, if at all, with the new proposed schedules.